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What is the legal age for acrylic nails in the UK? As the beauty industry grows and with it the number of minors seeking treatments, we are contacted every day by nail technicians asking whether th...
As the beauty industry grows and with it the number of minors seeking treatments, we are contacted every day by nail technicians asking whether there is a legal age for acrylic nails in the UK.
Any person under the age of 16 is considered a minor, so it’s important to ask yourself whether it’s safe or appropriate to treat a child. It is critical that you follow training guidelines and manufacturer’s product advice when it comes to providing treatment to young persons. From a legal perspective, if a client is under 16 you would need written parental consent and a parent or guardian present for all standard treatments.
There are a few additional things to think about when treating younger children that could potentially affect the safety of the treatment.
Most children are very lively and might have trouble keeping still for the amount of time it takes to do their nails. If a child moves while you’re applying gel polish, you might be at risk of exposing their skin to the dangerous chemicals, which could result in an adverse reaction.
Additionally, the nail desk is full of tools that could cause harm to the child if they picked them up or moved them and other chemicals used in the process which they could also knock over, causing them to spill or get into the child’s eyes. Furthermore, it’s important to consider the fact that children tend to put their fingers in their mouths, and with an uncured product, they could be at risk of poisoning.
To minimise the risk of accidents and consequent insurance claims, you may want to make sure there is an adult present when providing treatment to a child. Even though it is not written in the law, some insurance companies may request proof that any person under the legal age was accompanied by a parent or guardian when receiving an acrylic nail or other nail treatments.
Children, and most adults, might not understand the potential health risks and damage that acrylic nails can cause to young, tender nails. It’s critical to discuss the possible contra-actions and -indications with the child and parent, and offer alternatives where applicable. Gel nails or a simple manicure, for example, are great alternatives to offer younger clients and are not as damaging to the child’s nail bed as acrylics.
As a qualified nail technician, you should already have an insurance plan to cover you and your business while providing your services. However, treating minors has long been a point of contention for insurance providers.
Under our cover, you cannot apply acrylic nails to anyone under the age of 14, regardless of whether a parent or guardian has consented to the treatment. For any children between the ages of 14 – 16, you still must have written parental consent.
Remember, you are under no obligation to treat any client, regardless of age. If you are uncomfortable treating a minor because you believe that treatment is inappropriate or potentially dangerous for a child, we will back you on your decision and are always here to discuss any concerns with you!
If your policy isn’t with us, always make sure to check the requirements with your provider, as these will vary from company to company. In order to stay protected, you will need to follow your insurer’s advice.
At Professional Beauty Direct, we’re a very friendly small team based in Kent. We love building strong relationships with our clients, which is why all of our calls are taken in our office and not an impersonal call centre. We pride ourselves in helping our customers with any queries they have along the way, be it insurance, treatment or training issues. We are always here to help.
As nail and beauty insurance specialists we are experts in our field, we understand treatments and your business. If you're looking to find cover to protect yourself from claims resulting from treatments such as acrylic and gel nails, manicure and pedicure, Professional Beauty Direct offers comprehensive salon insurance, hairdressing insurance cover, and beauty therapy cover to keep your business safe.
Call us on 0345 605 8670 today to speak to our advisors.
8th July 2019